LOVE AND SACRIFICE(v3)

Love and Sacrifice(v3): All together for the first time

Shadow sat quietly in a chair, watching the others while at the same time detatching himself from them. The last thing he needed was to become emotionally attatched to any of them for any reason. The ground hybrid was arguing with the fighting hybrid over a map or something, and the three winged hybrids were talking together. The water hybrid was talking with the grass, and ice hybrids. All of them were getting to know each other, with the exceptions of the psychic and lightning hybrids. Even the ice hybrid seemed to distance herself from the group she was talking to. Shadow could see himself reflected in those three.

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"Hmm... Spread your wings out Merideth." Swift ordered the dragon hybrid, and she immediately complied so he could examine her leathery wings, which were quite differently structured from his own feathered ones. "I think I see why you can't hover now... Dragon wings just aren't built for it. That and they don't have as light a frame as many other flying pokemon."

Merideth sighed, folding her wings. "So I guess I won't be able to learn how to hover?"

"Possibly, but you'd need to exercise your wings more. They're a bit...weak..."

"Well I only started flying two years ago. They were too small to carry me at first."

"That must be why then, they might not have finished growing yet." He turned to Hali. "Mind if I check your wings?"

"Sure." She spread her butterfly wings, and this time, Swift just looked at them, not wanting to touch her fragile wings.

"It's amazing you're able to fly with those..." Starring at her in awe as he spoke. "You don't weigh very much, do you?"

Grinning for the first time, Hali shook her head. "I probably don't weigh more than a few butterfree."

He blinked. "Now that is light..."

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"So you two have met already?" Corvet asked the ice and grass hybrids.

"Yes." Aita replied.

"Unfortunately..." Vair said at the same time.

"There aren't very many female hybrids, are there?" Corvet observed. "There's us three, and then the bug, psychic, ground and dragon hybrids. The boys outnumber us."

"Well, that can be both a good, and bad thing." Vair added with a wink.

"So, what do you think of the others?" Corvet asked.

"They seem alright... I talked to Keisuke-"

"Keisuke?" Corvet repeated.

"Or Blade," Vair added. "And he's a really nice guy." She continued. "Probably the sanest one of the males in my opinion. In battle, he's extremely focused, but you can tell that he hates killing. Xeth was pretty nice too, though he talks a lot. Tevas is also a nice guy, though something tells me that having him in the same place as Xeth is not a good idea... They're too similair in certain ways. Devin... well, I'm not sure if he counts as a girl or boy... He's kinda... both."

"Dittos don't have genders, and Devin is a ditto hybrid. What gender 'he' chooses to appear as is his own decision." Aita informed her, slightly surprising the other two by joining in the conversation.

"Oh, I guess that makes him an 'it' then..." Corvet supplied. "He/she's kind of like Xeth and Tevas when you think about it."

Aita suddenly got up, dissapearing into a hallway.

Corvet shook her head, watching the other hybrid go. "Have you ever seen such focused individuals before? Her, the lightning, psychic and dark hybrids? They seem to live only for the war..."

Vair sighed. "We all do, Corvet. We have no other purpose in this world but to fight this war. I for one am counting on dying in it. Can you imaine any of us even trying to live normal lives, if-"

"When." Corvet corrected.

"When the war ends. People will never accept us. We may be the ones fighting for their freedom, but I don't think they'll ever accept us."

"Such grim thinking..." Corvet muttered. "But you're right." Forcing a smile, however, she spoke again. "I am not going to shut myself off from the world like they have. I may die tomorrow, might as well enjoy life while I can."

"I only wish I could see my life like you do..." Vair replied quietly.

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The lightning hybrid, Indenki, had not spoken a word since the 'incident'. He'd been quiet the whole time, keeping a 'calm' mask on. But if one searched hard enough, they could see the conflicting emotions fighting inside of him. He seemed to deeply regret what he had done. He had killed the men who might have helped bring about peace... Thankfully, Jarith Oak still lived, but he was in a coma. He couldn't do anything while in a coma.

"You couldn't have known. We were all tricked."

Indenki turned around to see the dark hybrid standing by him. "You're Shadow Seikou?"

He nodded.

"I know I couldn't have done anything, but it doesn't change what I've done."

"What do you want to do then? You can't change the past."

The electric hybrid was silent, seeming to think over the question. "I'm going to keep a close eye on Jarith. He must live. I'm not going to let Zentai get him."

"Wise decision." Shadow replied, turning to go back to where he had been sitting, when Indenki spoke again.

"Why did you talk to me?" Indenki asked, slightly curious. The older hybrid did not seem to be the kind who would want to comfort anyone, even himself, so why had he come?

He did not get a spoken reply though. Shadow simply turned, staring at him with his glowing green eyes before turning again and leaving.

/He's even better at keeping emotions hidden than I am... My eyes always betray me, but him, he keeps everything locked away from everyone, even himself./ Indenki looked over at the psychic hybrid who was levitating in an isolated spot. /She's also like us... And the ice hybrid to some extent. At least I can count on them not to interfere in anything I try to do. They understand me./ He looked over at the other hybrids. /Each one so different. Each has their own way of dealing with the pain we all feel about who we are, and what we must do.../

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Blade had watched Shadow talk to Indenki from where he sat with Jorvis and Kaor, wondering what had caused the dark hybrid to actually speak to him. They were both such complex souls... All of them were really, but them, Siana, and Aita were four of the most complex. So was Xeth. Beneath the clownish demeanor, Blade could sense a great pain, most likely the loss of loved ones.

"Hey, Keisuke, can you play any instrument?" Merideth asked, walking up.

"Yes, why're you asking?" He stared at the dragon hybrid, somehow knowing that they'd become good friends someday.

"Great! What do you play?"

"A lot of things... But you still haven't answered why."

She grinned, and tousled his hair. "Come on, I want you to play something for me." She grabbed his hand and dragged him out of his chair to an old piano that sat in the corner of the hideout.

"Kenji has a piano?" He looked at the fighting hybrid in surprise.

"It's not mine. It's Taru's."

"Should've known. An insensitive b*st*rd like you wouldn't know the first thing about music." Erian taunted, immediately shut up by her older brother.

Blade sat down on the stool, then looked at the keys, dusting them off with one hand. "What do you want me to play Merideth?"

She sang a few lines, then asked him if he knew the song.

"I've heard it a few times. Hold on." He tested the piano, pleased to find it in still in-tune. "Okay! One, two, three, go!" He started playing, and soon, Merideth accompanied him. It wasn't long before all chatting ceased, and everyone listened. Eventually, Swift joined her in singing, their voices bot complimenting each other's. Even Shadow, Indenki and Siana seemed to listen, for no one was immune to the soothing effect of music. The tune was simple, but enchanting, and Blade seemed to have a gift for playing the piano. His fingers moved fluidly over the keys, not striking the wrong one even once. Merideth had a voice that one might call a gift from the Gods. It was beautiful, and she knew how to use it well. Swift too could sing very well.

Together, they reminded the other hybrids about the beauty of the world they lived in, and why they were risking their lives to bring peace.

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